South of Midnight Review: Compulsion Raises the Bar on Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5
South of Midnight, developed by the talented team at Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, returns with a fresh release on both Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5.
First launching on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam in 2023, this action-adventure platformer fuses deep Southern culture, rich folklore, and emotional storytelling with innovative gameplay, promising an experience unlike any other.
The newly released Weaver’s Edition introduces the base game alongside exclusive digital bonuses, such as a behind-the-scenes documentary and a music video.
This thoughtful approach by Compulsion Games provides added value to players discovering South of Midnight for the first time, or those wanting to revisit Hazel’s journey through the supernatural American Deep South on next-generation hardware.
Atmosphere and Narrative Depth
South of Midnight starts by introducing Hazel, its protagonist, in a moving home scene as she prepares with her mother for an oncoming hurricane.
The meticulous attention to detail in the dialogue, regional accents, and animation immerses players in a world that feels tangible and intimate, calling to mind narrative standouts like Life is Strange and Yakuza 0.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the game’s opening conveys a comforting, “home-cooked” warmth, making the setting itself a character in Hazel’s story.
The story soon branches into magical realism, where Hazel – a Weaver – explores intertwining tales of folklore, emotion, and family.
These story vignettes are bolstered by strong voice performances and perfectly placed musical cues.
Compulsion Games’ narrative prowess comes through, demonstrating a rare blend of grounded realism and mythic wonder.
Gameplay, Exploration, and Technical Impressions
From a gameplay perspective, South of Midnight offers varied exploration, platforming, secret hunting, and boss battles.
While the central combat encounters can feel repetitive and somewhat disconnected from the game’s richer elements, progression through acquiring new abilities and the inclusion of well-designed puzzles help maintain interest throughout.
Platforming grows more intricate as the adventure continues, demanding creative navigation to access hidden collectibles and unlockables.
The game's visual presentation shines, with evocative character designs, dynamic lighting, and atmospheric effects.
However, technical performance on Nintendo Switch 2 can be uneven.
In handheld mode, the game suffers from erratic frame rates, input latency, and occasional audio glitches during cutscenes—issues that persist even when installing the game on internal storage.
Docked play stabilizes performance somewhat, though fluctuations below 30 frames per second are still noticeable.
Notably, HD rumble support is well-implemented, adding another layer of immersion on both Switch 2 and PS5, and the game’s accessibility features offer excellent readability throughout.
Compulsion’s collaboration with composer Olivier Deriviere results in a remarkable soundtrack, blending blues, country, and orchestral arrangements that underscore the game’s thematic ambition.
Voice acting stands out as one of the year’s best, deepening player connection to Hazel and her world.
Comparing Versions: Switch 2 vs. PS5
Performance on PlayStation 5 is markedly superior, with smoother frame rates (maintaining 60 fps), faster loading times, and higher visual fidelity.
Data from the most recent patch (as of March 31) shows Switch 2 takes roughly 21 seconds to reach the title screen versus 8 seconds on PS5, with game load times similarly doubled.
Visual hiccups, such as delayed texture loading, are more prevalent on Nintendo’s platform, sometimes breaking immersion.
Despite these technical shortcomings, especially in handheld play, the core experience of South of Midnight remains exceptional.
The story, art direction, and music make for a compelling journey.
Accessibility features ensure the game can be enjoyed by a wide audience, and the Weaver’s Edition’s additional content is a welcome bonus.
Final Verdict
South of Midnight is a standout narrative adventure that cements Compulsion Games’ reputation for heartfelt, magical storytelling.
While the Nintendo Switch 2 version is hindered by technical issues that particularly affect handheld play, it nonetheless delivers most of the experience that earned praise on other platforms.
For players seeking a hauntingly beautiful exploration of myth, family, and the American South, South of Midnight is not to be missed—especially when played on a powerful console like the PS5.
Score: 7/10
South of Midnight is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the eShop.
For more details, visit Compulsion Games’ official channels or the Nintendo eShop.
South of Midnight, developed by the talented team at Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, returns with a fresh release on both Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5.
First launching on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam in 2023, this action-adventure platformer fuses deep Southern culture, rich folklore, and emotional storytelling with innovative gameplay, promising an experience unlike any other.
The newly released Weaver’s Edition introduces the base game alongside exclusive digital bonuses, such as a behind-the-scenes documentary and a music video.
This thoughtful approach by Compulsion Games provides added value to players discovering South of Midnight for the first time, or those wanting to revisit Hazel’s journey through the supernatural American Deep South on next-generation hardware.
Atmosphere and Narrative Depth
South of Midnight starts by introducing Hazel, its protagonist, in a moving home scene as she prepares with her mother for an oncoming hurricane.
The meticulous attention to detail in the dialogue, regional accents, and animation immerses players in a world that feels tangible and intimate, calling to mind narrative standouts like Life is Strange and Yakuza 0.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the game’s opening conveys a comforting, “home-cooked” warmth, making the setting itself a character in Hazel’s story.
The story soon branches into magical realism, where Hazel – a Weaver – explores intertwining tales of folklore, emotion, and family.
These story vignettes are bolstered by strong voice performances and perfectly placed musical cues.
Compulsion Games’ narrative prowess comes through, demonstrating a rare blend of grounded realism and mythic wonder.
Gameplay, Exploration, and Technical Impressions
From a gameplay perspective, South of Midnight offers varied exploration, platforming, secret hunting, and boss battles.
While the central combat encounters can feel repetitive and somewhat disconnected from the game’s richer elements, progression through acquiring new abilities and the inclusion of well-designed puzzles help maintain interest throughout.
Platforming grows more intricate as the adventure continues, demanding creative navigation to access hidden collectibles and unlockables.
The game's visual presentation shines, with evocative character designs, dynamic lighting, and atmospheric effects.
However, technical performance on Nintendo Switch 2 can be uneven.
In handheld mode, the game suffers from erratic frame rates, input latency, and occasional audio glitches during cutscenes—issues that persist even when installing the game on internal storage.
Docked play stabilizes performance somewhat, though fluctuations below 30 frames per second are still noticeable.
Notably, HD rumble support is well-implemented, adding another layer of immersion on both Switch 2 and PS5, and the game’s accessibility features offer excellent readability throughout.
Compulsion’s collaboration with composer Olivier Deriviere results in a remarkable soundtrack, blending blues, country, and orchestral arrangements that underscore the game’s thematic ambition.
Voice acting stands out as one of the year’s best, deepening player connection to Hazel and her world.
Comparing Versions: Switch 2 vs. PS5
Performance on PlayStation 5 is markedly superior, with smoother frame rates (maintaining 60 fps), faster loading times, and higher visual fidelity.
Data from the most recent patch (as of March 31) shows Switch 2 takes roughly 21 seconds to reach the title screen versus 8 seconds on PS5, with game load times similarly doubled.
Visual hiccups, such as delayed texture loading, are more prevalent on Nintendo’s platform, sometimes breaking immersion.
Despite these technical shortcomings, especially in handheld play, the core experience of South of Midnight remains exceptional.
The story, art direction, and music make for a compelling journey.
Accessibility features ensure the game can be enjoyed by a wide audience, and the Weaver’s Edition’s additional content is a welcome bonus.
Final Verdict
South of Midnight is a standout narrative adventure that cements Compulsion Games’ reputation for heartfelt, magical storytelling.
While the Nintendo Switch 2 version is hindered by technical issues that particularly affect handheld play, it nonetheless delivers most of the experience that earned praise on other platforms.
For players seeking a hauntingly beautiful exploration of myth, family, and the American South, South of Midnight is not to be missed—especially when played on a powerful console like the PS5.
Score: 7/10
South of Midnight is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the eShop.
For more details, visit Compulsion Games’ official channels or the Nintendo eShop.